VANCOUVER — David Strangway, a geophysicist who served as president of the University of British Columbia from 1985 to 1997 and worked for NASA during the Apollo space missions, has died.
University president Santa Ono says Strangway's leadership enabled it to become a world-renowned institution and the community is deeply saddened by his death.
Ono says Strangway spearheaded what was at the time Canada's largest fundraising campaign for a university and enhanced the school's research and reputation.
He says Strangway will be remembered for his many accomplishments, including a significant role with NASA when he was responsible for the geophysical aspects of the Apollo space missions.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark issued a statement saying that men of Strangway's calibre do not come along every day.
He was so well-respected that former prime minister Jean Chretien appointed him to work with United States' authorities to resolve a dispute over fishing rights to Pacific salmon, she says.
"David's tenure at UBC is widely recognized as a turning point, transforming the university into a world-leading centre of research, development, and learning," Clark says.
"For his contributions to UBC and Canada, we owe David an enormous debt of gratitude. He will be missed."
Strangway also served as president of the University of Toronto and founded Quest University Canada, a private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, B.C..
Strangway was instrumental in extending UBC's relationships and influence across the world, especially in Asia, Ono says in a news release.
"I know the UBC community will be joined by countless others around the globe in mourning the loss of this extraordinarily inspiring man."
